Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how effective it is for an issue to be included within the national priorities in education, given the view expressed in paragraph 23 of its Policy Memorandum on the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill that the inclusion of accessibility strategies in these priorities "would carry little weight".

Nicol Stephen: The National Priorities in Education define the key outcomes we want from school education. The inclusion of any issue in the National Priorities requires ministers, local authorities and schools to address it in planning and delivering school education.

  The focus on outcomes in the Improvement Framework, under the National Priorities, is intended to give authorities and schools considerable flexibility to determine locally how these outcomes are secured.

  The Policy Memorandum to the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill makes clear that to support the duties introduced in Part IV of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, requires specific legislative provisions, which could not be secured through the inclusion of a single indicator in the performance measurement framework, under the National Priorities. In addition, the provisions of the Bill require to apply to all schools in the public and private sectors. The Improvement Framework applies only to publicly-funded schools. The memorandum in no way questions the value of the priorities in setting the agenda for improvement in Scottish education.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the view expressed in paragraph 23 of its Policy Memorandum on the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill that the inclusion of accessibility strategies in the national priorities in education "would carry little weight" is reconciled with the view expressed in the letter of 16 May 2000 from the then Deputy Minister for Children and Education to the Secretary of the Gaelic School Planning Group that the inclusion of Gaelic in the priorities was probably the most significant achievement ever for Gaelic-medium education.

Nicol Stephen: The National Priorities in Education define the key outcomes we want from school education. The inclusion of any issue in the priorities requires ministers, local authorities and schools to address it in planning and delivering school education. The inclusion of Gaelic in the priorities is, accordingly, a significant achievement for the development of Gaelic-medium education.

  The focus on outcomes in the Improvement Framework, under the National Priorities, is intended to give authorities and schools considerable flexibility to determine locally how these outcomes are secured.

  The Policy Memorandum to the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill makes clear that to support the duties introduced in Part IV of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, requires specific legislative provisions which could not be secured through the inclusion of a single indicator in the performance measurement framework, under the National Priorities. In addition, the provisions of the Bill require to apply to all schools in the public and private sectors. The Improvement Framework applies only to publicly-funded schools. The memorandum in no way questions the value of the priorities, in setting the agenda for improvement in Scottish education.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21184 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 January 2002, whether the cost of the Controller and his staff is included in the costs for HM Prison Kilmarnock given in the answers to questions S1W-9796, S1W-10002 and S1W-11308.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties have been incurred under the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock by the operators of the prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There was a start-up performance deduction of £190,912, and there have been performance related revenue deductions totalling £494,746.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it pays any additional fees when the number of prisoners at HM Prison Kilmarnock is greater than the number of places available for prisoners.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Details of the payment mechanisms are given in the contract published on 8 March 2002, on the SPS website.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what methodology is used to estimate the cost of the Scottish Prison Service's provision of a custodial service equivalent to that provided at HM Prison Kilmarnock, detailing the assumptions made with regard to the calculation of net present value, inflation rates, interest rates, design costs, construction costs, financing costs, staff costs and any other relevant costs.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The costs for Kilmarnock Prison date back to 1997, the date of contract signature. The most up to date estimates for the delivery of a modern customised service were prepared for the SPS Estates Review, published on 21 March 2002. Full details of the methodology and relevant assumptions are contained in the consultation documents.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what methodology it used to calculate the net present value for HM Prison Kilmarnock and what assumptions were made in regard to the rate of inflation, interest rates and any other relevant factor.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The net present value for HMP Kilmarnock was calculated based on the cash flow over the 25-year operating period, discounted at 6%, according to HM Treasury guidance.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12540 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 February 2001, what its (a) base case, (b) best case and (c) worst case estimates were for the cost of HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The net present value (NPV) of the contract for HMP Kilmarnock was £133 million, based on the agreed contract pricing. The NPV of the public sector comparator was calculated on a pre- and post-risk basis, amounting to £263 million and £290 million respectively.

Rail Network

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what transitional arrangements will be made for any (a) draft provisional orders to authorise railways under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 and (b) orders under the Light Railways Act 1896 and Light Railways Act 1912 that have been applied for and are outstanding on the date when the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 on the promotion and construction of railways comes into force.

Lewis Macdonald: No such transitional arrangements are currently being made. There are no current or outstanding applications, and none are anticipated before the Order in Council, under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, on the promotion and construction of railways comes into force.

Schools

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information on children outwith the state school system will be included in the Scottish Exchange for Education Data.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive Education Department is currently in discussion with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), concerning the benefits to independent schools from participation in the Scottish Exchange for Educational Data (SCOTXED) project. No decision has yet been taken on whether information on children educated in independent schools will be transferred electronically as part of the September 2002 Scottish School Census.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Higher Still programme has cost the Scottish Qualifications Authority in each year since the programme began (a) in total, (b) per candidate, (c) per subject and (d) per candidate in each subject area.

Nicol Stephen: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the information requested is not held centrally. However, I have asked the Chair of the SQA to write to you.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what fee income the Scottish Qualifications Authority has received in respect of the Higher Still programme (a) in total, (b) in each local authority area and (c) on average (i) per subject and (ii) per candidate.

Nicol Stephen: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority and information about fee income is not held centrally. However, I have asked the Chair to write to you.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated budget is for the Scottish Qualifications Authority for (a) the current financial year, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04 and (d) 2004-05.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Qualifications Authority's (SQA) budgeted expenditure in the current financial year is estimated at £41.5 million. The SQA's budget for future years is currently under discussion.

Teachers

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an anomaly has arisen as a consequence of the implementation of the McCrone Agreement in regard to the guarantee of a placement for the one probation year for new graduates which affects the two-year probation of graduates intending to qualify in primary or secondary disciplines and who currently complete two-year probationary placements in primary and secondary schools, and how many probationers this situation will effect.

Nicol Stephen: Currently those teachers graduating with a teaching qualification in a secondary subject can teach their subject in a primary school. However, to gain full registration they must complete two years probation within a secondary setting. They cannot become fully registered as a primary teacher without further training and a further period of probation.

  The new scheme will guarantee all eligible probationary teachers a one-year training contract, teaching the subject in which they are qualified. In the case of those with a secondary qualification, this will be in a secondary school. This will lead to achievement of the standard for full registration and the opportunity to register as a fully qualified secondary teacher.

  The opportunity to teach in their subject in primary schools is still available but, as with the current situation, will not lead to full registration as a primary teacher.

  The Scottish Executive considers there is no anomaly in this situation and does not collect information on how many students are in this position.

Teachers

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to ensure that teachers who started probation in the school year 2001-02 have adequate access to suitable posts in order to meet the full requirements of the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The General Teaching Council for Scotland are currently in the process of notifying all probationer teachers of the transitional arrangements, which have been put in place for those who are not part of the Teacher Induction Scheme. These arrangements allow all existing probationer teachers with 270 days teaching experience, to apply for full registration as a teacher. Currently the normal requirement is 380 days.

  The deployment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. Discussions are currently under way to finalise the details of the implementation of the Teacher Induction Scheme in individual authorities, including consideration of any impact on existing probationers.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list and cost all projects being undertaken by (a) North of Scotland Water, (b) East of Scotland Water and (c) West of Scotland Water to comply with the provisions of the drinking water quality directive 80/778/EEC.

Ross Finnie: North of Scotland Water Authority and West of Scotland Water Authority have both given Scottish ministers an undertaking to carry out improvement works, to comply with the provisions of the new Drinking Water Directive 98/78/EC. There is currently no drinking water quality undertaking for East of Scotland Water Authority. The projects that comprise the undertakings for the North and the West are listed in the authorities annual water quality reports.

  There are 564 water supply zones in Scotland and the North of Scotland Water Authority undertaking should bring about compliance with the Directive in 258 of these zones at an estimated cost of £180 million. The West of Scotland Water Authority undertaking, which covers 28 zones, is estimated to cost £123 million. The cost of the individual projects comprising the undertaking is not held centrally. This is a matter for the water authorities.

  In addition to the undertaking programmes in the North and the West, all three water authorities are carrying out lead pipe replacements and installing orthophosphate dosing equipment, to comply with the new lead standard.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projects being undertaken by (a) North of Scotland Water Authority, (b) East of Scotland Water Authority and (c) West of Scotland Water Authority to comply with the provisions of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive (91/272/EEC) subsequently amended by Commission Directive (98/15/EC) including costings.

Ross Finnie: The list of projects which are currently under way, and their costs, is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20557).

Youth Crime

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Feasibility Group on Youth Crime Pilots will be published.

Mr Jim Wallace: This report was published today and is available on the Scottish Executive's website.